Grip measuring ball for bowlers



Nov. 2, 1948. v H. REITSMA 2,453,036

GRIP MEASURING BALL FOR BOWLERS Filed March 6, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 In ventar Henry Reifsma H. REi'rsMA 2,453,036

GRIP MEASURING BALL FOR BOWLERS Nov. 2, 1948.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fil ed March 6, l947 I Inventor Henry Reifsma Patented Nov. 2, 1948 j 21Henry:R e its rna, fiackensack, N. 3., as s ignor of ,one-halfto Jack G. Hunter, Ridgewood, N. J, I

: Applicsgsn March fi, 1947, Serial No. 732,839

UNITED My invention relates to improvements in grip measuring balls for bowlers; the primary object in view being toprovide a ball of the class indicated with thumb and finger grip sections relatively adjustable to provide for obtaining a greater number of differentgrip combinations or thumb and fingerspacings than canbe attained withpresent day devices designed for a similar purpose, i i l l Another objectmis to provide adevice of the character and for the purpose above set forth whichis accurate easy to adjust, will not get out of order from prolonged use, and is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

To the accomplishment of the above, and subordinate'objects presently appearing, a preferred embodiment of my invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, set forth in detail in the succeeding description, and defined in the claims appended hereto.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of my improved grip measuring ball in a preferred embodiment thereof;

Figure 2 is a similar View with the ball through an angle of 90 degrees;

Figure 3 is a view in section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; i

turned items. (01. 33-174) Figure 4 is a view in perspective of the sections of the ball disassembled; and

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of one of the bushings. i

Reference being had to the drawings by numerals, according to my invention, a bowlers measuring ball I is provided, of the same size as those commonly used in bowling tenpins, and which comprisesa pair of opposite thumb and finger grip sections 2, 3 segmental in cross section with fiat sides 4, 5 facing, and anintermediate, diametrical, fiat sided finger grip section 6 fitting sidewise between and against the fiat sides 4, 5 of said sections 2, 3 to complete the ball I. Preferably, thesaid sections 2, 3 and 6 are formed of hard rubber.

The thumb grip section 2 isprovidedwith a circular series of cylindrical thumb grip holes 1 therein spaced apart equi-distantly around the same but adjacent to the fiat side 4 of said section, and which incline toward said flat side tangentially in correspondence with the inclination of the usual thumbgrip holes in the usual bowling ball. The thumb grip holes I are of difierent diameters, relatively, with outer beveled ends 8 facilitating enteringthe thumb into the same and are spaced different distances from the side 4, ofsaidsection, 2 for a purpose presently 9811., W 1. The finger grip section 3 is, provideduwith a circular series ofcylindrical finger grip holes 9 therein, with beveledlouter ends l0 facilitating entering the fingers therein, and which are spaced-apart equi-distantly around the section 3 adjacent to the side 5 of saidsectionand with axes parallel to said side 5, said Openings 9 being also of different diameters relatively. i i The intermediatefinger grip section 6 is formed with a circular seriesoffinger. grip holes l.l therein, also, cylindrical, with beveled outer ends 12, for a purpose which will now be clear, and. said holes H are spaced apart equi-distantly around said section is closer to the sideof said intermediate section facing the side 5 of the finger grip section 3 than the other side of said section 6. The finger grip holes H are of different diameters relatively.

The described thumb and finger grip sections v 2, 3 and 6 are relatively adjustable rotatably into difierent set positions about a shaft I31 extending through the same in the axis thereof with a pair of end wing nuts adapted to seat in concave sockets 15 formed in the circumferential portions of the thumb and finger grip sections 2, 3, said wing nutsM seating against stepped metal bushings l6, l1 set into said circumferential portions and surroundingsaid shaft. A pair of axial stepped metal bushings l8, l9 surrounding said shaft I3 are set into the intermediate finger grip section 6 from opposite sidesthereof to bear against a pair of similar bushings 20, iii also surrounding said shaft l3and set into the sides 4, 5 of said sections 2,3. V As will now be seen, by virtue of the described arrangement of the series ofthumb and finger grip holes I, 9, H, in the thumb and finger grip sections 2, 3, 6, said series may be revolved relatively about a common axis by setting of said sections 2, 3 and 6 relatively to spacet'he thumb grip holes in the series 1 variably, laterally of spaced closer together than to the thumb as is required in obtaining the perfect grip on a bowll4 threaded thereon and ing ball. Also, two hole combination grips may be attained as will be readily apparent, and either right or left hand grips by virtue of the described sections being difierently spaced from the sides of said intermediate section, whereby in different set positions of said sections plural hole combination grips may be attained with finger grip holes therein spaced closer together laterally than to a thumb grip hole and the holes in each combination varying in size relatively.

2. A grip measuring device for bowlers comprising a 'ball includingapair of side segmental sections with fiat sides facing, a diametrical fiat sided intermediate section interposed between Manifestly, the invention, as'described, is ,S'llS- ceptible of modification, without departing from the inventive concept, and right isfherein re served to such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: 1. A grip measuring device for bowlers omprising a ball including a pair of side segmental sectionswithjflat sides facing, 'a-diametrical fiat sided intermediate section interposed between said side sections, a bolt extendingaxially through said sections with end nuts thereon and upon which said sections are relatively rotatable into -difierent set positions established by tightening --of said nuts, one of saidside sections being provided with 'a circular seriesof thumb grip holes therein, the other side section and said :intermediate section "having respectively a circular series of finger :grip :holes therein, the holes in said series being Ofdifierent diameters in each series to accommodate thumbsand fingers of different sizes and-the series of holes in the side said side sections, a bolt extending axially throughsaid sections with end nuts thereon and upon which said sections are relatively rotatable :into difierent setpos'itions established by tightening-pf said nuts, one of said side sections being provided with a circular series of thumb grip holes therein, the other side section and said intermediate section having respectively a circular series of finger grip holes therein, the holes in said series beingof 'difierent diameters in each series to accommodatethumbs and fingers of-dif- .ferent sizes .and the series 10f holes in the side sections zbeing difierently spaced from the sides of saidr intermediate section, .whereby in different set-positions of said sections plural hole combination grips may be attained with ,finger ;grip

. holes therein spaced-closer'together laterally vthan to a thumb grip hole and the holes in each combination varying in size relatively, said .series' of thumb grip holes extending into said one sec-' 'tion tangentially to provide a secure thumb grip.

REI'ISMA.

No references cited. 

